Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty

Tiny Lions lounge and adoption Center (The area’s first cat café!) now open

Ann Arbor, MI (May 6, 2016) – The cats are single and ready to mingle at the Humane Society of Huron Valley’s new Tiny Lions lounge and adoption Center on Jackson Road in Ann Arbor.

“Yoga with cats, movie nights with cats, date nights with cats, story time with cats, children’s birthday parties with cats – basically, the Tiny Lions Center provides oodles of opportunities to enjoy cats,” says Haley Chynoweth, the manager of the Tiny Lions Center (TLC). “And we’re right next to Biggby coffee, so people can grab a cup of java, then pop in for some furry love.”

Chynoweth encourages patrons to bring their own beverages; rather than selling refreshments, the café will serve refreshing “cattitude.”

Though there is no obligation to take a cat home with you, making the café an ideal hangout for those who cannot have a (or another) pet or cat of their own, resident cats at the café are all available for adoption. In fact, the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) mentions that’s a major reason for opening the café.

“Nationally, homeless cats still face tragic statistics—with only one in four leaving a shelter alive. Tiny Lions will not just provide for adoption of our own community’s cats, it will also allow us to adopt out cats in need from struggling Michigan communities,” says Tanya Hilgendorf, CEO/President of HSHV, known for its high adoption rate.

“Our supporters know that HSHV is an award-winning leader in animal welfare. We have a passionate and bold commitment to saving lives, and this is another creative step in that direction. And in addition to helping find more homes for cats, the cat cafe is just a really fun concept,” says Hilgendorf.

Need more reasons to get “cat-feinnated”? Studies show spending time with furry friends brings health benefits like decreasing blood pressure, reducing risk of heart attack and stroke, and decreasing feelings of loneliness. For children, time spent with an animal builds empathy and self-confidence and can ease the effects of trauma.

Patrons of TLC will be able to enjoy the free Wi-Fi and the calming company of cats, as they roam about the cage-free, cozy environment. TLC staff and volunteers ask that patrons be quiet and respectful of the cats—and one more thing.

“People cannot bring their own cats,” Chynoweth says. “That’s the number one question we are getting asked.” Chynoweth chuckles. “Though we’ll have plenty of cats for people to enjoy.”

The Tiny Lions lounge and adoption Center is at 5245 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor (I-94’s Zeeb Road exit), and will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., and closed on Mondays (for all-day cat naps). Patrons can drop in and enjoy time with cats for $7 per hour. More information on and reservations for activities such as yoga, family “mew-vie” nights, and story time can be found at tinylions.org. Space is limited; regretfully, when the café reaches capacity, additional patrons will be asked to return later. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, with a limit of two children per adult. See more at tinylions.org or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tinylionscatcafe/.

About The Humane Society of Huron Valley:

The Humane Society of Huron Valley, located in Ann Arbor, is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and relies solely on the generosity of our supporters to provide critical community programs and services. HSHV is an award-winning organization, recognized for our best practices and highest animal “save-rate” among all similar shelters in Michigan. Charity Navigator, the nation’s top charity evaluator, awarded HSHV a 4-star ranking, the highest possible. The mission of HSHV is to promote the loving, responsible care of all animals in our community. HSHV is not affiliated with any other humane organization and does not receive funding from the United Way. More information can be found on HSHV’s website (hshv.org) and on our annual report (www.hshv.org/2014annualreport).